Those were the days

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Week of Dec. 27, 2007

"Itty Bitty Bombers," a front-page story, detailed the hobby of Gypsum dentist Dr. Steve Oakson - the painstaking construction of model airplanes. While he readily admitted he didn't really keep count of how many models he had built, Oakson placed a conservative number of 300 on his collection. His particular interest was in World War II era planes.

The conservation easement for the Gates Ranch was finalized. The $3.4 million deal guaranteed the 740-acre historic ranch located in northwestern Eagle County would remain undeveloped.

As January approached, the Eagle Public Library announced it would host a Russian novel reading event. The featured work was "Crime and Punishment."

Week of Dec. 26, 2002

Margie Ward, community service officer for the Eagle Police Department, notched up a banner year as a professional barrel racer. She won the Snowmass Rodeo series in August and was the reserve champion at the National Barrel Horse Association regional competition.

A squabble among the Eagle County Commissioners over who should served as the coming year's chairman sparked the interest of other political entities in the county. Mayors in the towns of Eagle and Basalt urged the commissioners to follow normal protocol and rotate the chairmanship to Arn Menconi.

Longtime local Bonita Eaton passed away. Eaton was a member of the Eagle Town Board from 1980-84 and an active member of the community for her whole life. She managed Eagle Liquors for many years, retiring in 1993.

The Gypsum holiday lighting contest recognized five winners. Richard and Karen Filter, Vernon and Siobhan Squires, Ernesto Sanchez, David and Patsy Shankel, and Terry and Isabel Thompson were honored for their respective neighborhoods and were awarded $50 gift certificates from various local businesses.

Week of Dec. 31, 1992

Johnnette Phillips, the first woman ever elected as an Eagle County Commissioner, was set to take office on Jan. 12. While she was starting a new job with the county, Phillips was no stranger to the operation after serving as county clerk for 14 years.

Apollo Ski Partners, the new management team for Vail Associates, confirmed its continuing support of the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation. In particular, the new group in charge voiced support for the Foundation's efforts to bring the World Alpine Ski Championships back to the valley in 1999.

Summit Films, the movie-making company operated by Gypsum area resident Roger Brown, won the Best of Festival award at the 18th annual International Ski Films Festival held in Crested Butte.

Additionally, Summit Film's documentary "Western Ranching: Culture in Crisis" was slated to air nationally on PBS during 1993.

Week of Dec. 30, 1982

A public hearing was slated Jan. 5 to discuss the site for the new Eagle County Criminal Justice Center. There were five sites under consideration, including the existing courthouse site in downtown Eagle, BLM land located one mile east of the Eagle Interstate 70 interchange and three sites located east of the Eagle Commercial Park between I-70 and the railroad tracks. "The public is strongly encouraged to attend this hearing," the Enterprise announced.

Vail and Beaver Creek announced $5 lift tickets would be offered as part of an anniversary promotion. Additionally, several Vail restaurants were offering $5 steak dinners.

The town of Avon was conducting a traffic study and was considering whether it should be the first community in the county to install a traffic light.

The featured movie at the Minturn Theater was "The Empire Strikes Back."

Week of Dec. 28, 1972

"A group of carolers, who were attempting to spread some Christmas spirit, were the victims of another kind of spirit when their horse-drawn sleigh was hit by a motor vehicle," the Enterprise reported. The accident happened around 9:30 p.m. and the driver of the car was arrested for "drunken driving." No injuries resulted from the accident.

A public hearing was planned to debate the zoning plan for the proposed Kaibab project. Developers had proposed both single family and multi-family residential units for the property.

A New Year's Eve dance with music by the Purcella Brothers was planned at the Eagle Bar and Cafe. Admission was $3 per single or $5 per couple.

The Eagle Valley Television Corporation made its annual appeal for voluntary dues to support the over-the-air signal in the valley. "Only 186 families of a possible 400 paid their dues last year," the group noted. The annual fee was $18.

Week of Dec. 27, 1962

"When winter finally arrived there was no fooling around - it came with snow and weather colder than at any time last winter," the Enterprise reported. The thermometer dipped to a bone-chilling -33 degrees.

The American Legion Hall in Gypsum was badly damaged in an early morning fire. The roof and ceiling were completely destroyed and the building's walls and floor were extensively damaged. "The Legion hut has served as an important meeting place for both the communities of Gypsum and Eagle. In fact, it is the only such building to provide sufficient space for large meetings and community dances in the two towns. Until it can be rebuilt, there will be no building available for important gatherings in Gypsum or Eagle." Initial investigation suggested an overheated furnace caused the fire.

"Forty-five of the region's top ski athletes begin work at Vail Village in the 1964 Olympic training camp and 35 eastern skiers are due to arrive for competition berths on the U.S. Olympic Alpine team," reported the Enterprise. "Last week's snow storm saved Vail as the location for the Olympic ski camp. Lack of snow had threatened to move the ski camp elsewhere."

Week of Jan. 1, 1953

"The two-pronged fight against polio - raising money to help the crippled limbs of its victims and to find a final answer to wipe out the disease, begins in Colorado this week," the Enterprise reported.

Leslie Bertroch, Benny Wurtsmith and John Beasley, local men who had reported for military service in December, were all stationed at Camp Chaffee, Ark.

Holy Cross Electric Association reported it has extended service as far as the Jack Stephens Ranch and that the power was turned on Dec. 23.

Week of Dec. 25, 1942

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Eaton, residents of Squaw Creek, learned their son, Donald Eaton, was killed in action. He was stationed on a Navy destroyer in the South Pacific.

The Eagle County rationing board offered a front-page holiday announcement. "Thanks to everyone out over the county who gave their time in assisting in many ways during registration for rationing. The county board appreciates every little thing you have all done in aiding us during the past weeks and months of rationing."

Four chaplains at Camp Hale planned special Christmas services for the U.S. Army troops stationed at the Eagle County location.